Moz DA Checker
A Moz DA checker reports a domain's Moz Domain Authority score, a 1–100 comparative metric estimating how well a site may rank in search results.
- Also called
- Domain Authority checker, Moz DA tool
- Best for
- Competitive domain benchmarking, outreach prioritisation, link-building tracking
- Data it reports
- Moz Domain Authority score (1–100), linking root domains, link quality signals
Key points
- Domain Authority is a Moz-developed comparative metric, not a Google ranking factor.
- DA scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating a stronger likelihood of ranking relative to competitors.
- Moz calculates DA using a machine-learning model that primarily evaluates backlink signals, including linking root domains and link quality.
- DA can change when Moz updates its model or data, so scores may shift even if a site's content has not changed.
- Use DA as a proxy for competitive comparison, but always verify with relevance, traffic, and backlink quality.
How it works
A Moz DA checker queries Moz's index to retrieve the Domain Authority score for a given domain. Moz calculates DA using a machine-learning model that analyses backlink-related signals, primarily the number of linking root domains and the quality of those links. The model is trained on data from Moz's web index, which includes billions of pages and links.
The score is a comparative metric on a 1–100 logarithmic scale. A score of 1 represents the weakest link profile in Moz's index, while 100 represents the strongest. Because the scale is logarithmic, it is much harder to move from 80 to 90 than from 20 to 30. Moz updates DA periodically when it refreshes its index or retrains the model, so scores can change even if a site's content and backlinks remain unchanged.
Free tools like Moz's Domain Analysis page and MozBar allow users to check DA without a login in some cases, while Link Explorer provides more detailed queries with a Moz account. Third-party tools often offer bulk DA checking, but the underlying metric still refers to Moz DA rather than a Google metric.
How to use it
- Open Moz's Domain Analysis tool or install MozBar in your browser.
- Enter the full domain URL (e.g., example.com) into the checker field.
- Review the displayed DA score alongside linking root domains and spam score if available.
- Compare the DA score against competitor domains to gauge relative link profile strength.
- Use the score to prioritise outreach prospects: target domains with DA scores similar to or higher than your own.
- Track DA over time by rechecking periodically, but note that changes may reflect Moz updates rather than your link-building efforts.
How the tools differ
| Tool | What it measures | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Moz DA Checker (free) | Moz Domain Authority score, linking root domains | Uses Moz's own index and model; free queries limited per day |
| Moz Link Explorer | DA, page authority, spam score, backlink profile details | Requires Moz account; provides deeper link analysis and historical data |
| MozBar | DA, page authority, link metrics in browser | Displays metrics on any page without manual entry; browser extension |
| Third-party bulk DA checkers | Moz DA score for multiple domains at once | Often use Moz API but may add their own data layers; scores may differ slightly from Moz's own tools |
What it is not
- Belief: DA is a Google ranking factor. Correction: Moz states DA is not a direct Google ranking factor; it is a third-party comparative metric, not an actual search engine signal.
- Belief: DA scores are directly comparable across all niches. Correction: Comparing DA across unrelated niches ignores link profile quality and competitive context; a high DA in one niche may be average in another.
- Belief: DA alone determines a site's value. Correction: DA should not replace checking relevance, traffic, and backlink quality; a site with high DA but irrelevant content may not drive conversions.
- Belief: All DA checkers report identical scores. Correction: Scores can vary between tools, especially third-party ones that use their own data layers or different Moz API versions; always verify with Moz's own tools.
Sources
- Moz Domain Authority guide Primary source for what DA is, how Moz describes it, and how it should be interpreted.[3]
- Moz Domain Analysis / Free Domain Authority Checker Official Moz tool page for checking DA and related domain metrics.[1]
- Moz Help Hub: Domain Analysis Official instructions for using Moz’s authority-checking interface.[9]
- Moz Link Explorer Official backlink tool that provides DA-related research with free queries.[15]
Written and maintained by Nora Lindholm. Last updated 27 July 2026.
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